Christmas 2026 · Reims

Reims Christmas Market 2026:From the market chalets to the Cathedral, the whole city celebrates

From 25 November to 27 December, wooden chalets line up beneath the trees of the Hautes-Promenades, the leafy avenues running through the city centre. But in Reims, Christmas doesn’t stay in one square: it moves from one part of town to the next, all the way to the façade of the Cathedral.

On 25 November, the shutters of the chalets open on the Hautes-Promenades for the 29^th edition. Born in the late 1990s, the Reims Christmas market is now considered one of the most beautiful and largest in France, with around one million visitors every winter.

Food lovers will find plenty to warm up with, from aligot (cheesy mashed potatoes) to homemade soups, and sweet treats to finish: waffles, chocolate-coated fruit or candy apples. Grown-ups raise a glass of champagne poured by local producers. Younger visitors have a date with Santa and climb aboard the little train of the Village des Oursons, the teddy bear village.

The chalets are the heart of the celebrations, and this guide starts with them. But from late November to the first days of January, Christmas spreads across the whole city centre. Right next door, on the train station forecourt, local makers and producers run their own market. On Place d’Erlon, the 55 m (180 ft) Ferris wheel and the giant Christmas tree await. Behind the Palais du Tau, every evening, a sound and light show designed for children stars a chimney sweep and his bubbles of light. On Fridays and Saturdays, the façade of the Cathedral lights up to tell the story of the coronation of the kings of France. And in the Forum area, local designers open another market at Le Cellier. Enough to fill a whole weekend, or a few weekdays to stroll between the chalets at a gentler pace. And the kids won’t be the first to want to leave.

The Hautes-Promenades and the Porte de Mars, the heart of the market

About 150 chalets line up over nearly 500 m (1,600 ft), from the train station forecourt to the Porte de Mars esplanade. These tree-lined Promenades were laid out from 1733 on the site of the old city walls, and have been a protected site since 1932. As you wander beneath the trees, here’s what awaits.

Crafts and Christmas decorations

Along the paths, the chalets are packed with everything to deck the tree and fill the space underneath it.

• Christmas decorations, crafts and gift ideas.
• The artisans’ village: handmade pieces, bought directly from the people who make them.
• La Boutique #rémoise: a selection of products and creations made in Reims.

Food and drink at the market

It’s impossible to walk through without stopping at a counter. A small taste, among many other treats to discover from chalet to chalet:

• Hearty: homemade soups, truffle aligot (cheesy mashed potatoes), poutine, and hot sandwiches with raclette cheese or Alsatian white sausage, topped with sauerkraut and mustard.
• Sweet: candy apples, chocolate-coated fruit, and bubble waffles with Dubai-style chocolate.
• Champagne (for grown-ups): poured by local producers or at the champagne bar, with a biscuit rose, the pink Reims biscuit traditionally dipped in champagne, or a slice of jambon de Reims, the city’s own cooked ham.

The Christmas photo booth, new for 2026

A stop to take home a souvenir of your visit, and do a good deed along the way.

• Set up in the heart of the market.
• 10% of its takings go to the Foyer Saint-Remi, a Reims children’s home caring for children facing family difficulties.

Music and Christmas carols

On certain days, the market bursts into song.

• Wednesday and Friday afternoons: roaming music with the bands Nous on attend Paulette and Les Oiseaux de pas Sages.
• Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December at 5:30pm: traditional Christmas carols with the Arts et compagnie choir.
• Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December, 2pm to 6pm: two marching bands from Saint-Quentin liven up the city centre, Les Stimulants (festive brass band) on Saturday and La Vaillante Show and Marching Band on Sunday.

The charities’ chalet

On the Porte de Mars esplanade, one chalet is handed over to local charities.

• A different charity depending on the day, from the Secours populaire to animal shelters.

The Village des Oursons, the teddy bear village

At the foot of the Porte de Mars, a 3^rd-century Roman arch whose carvings tell the story of Romulus and Remus, children are in their element.

• Giant teddy bears, automatons and light displays, perfect for souvenir photos.
• Santa, there until 24 December.
• The little train, for a ride around the village.

The ice rink, just next door

Fancy a change of pace between two chalets? The ice is just a few steps away.

• The UCPA Sport Station ice rink, between the Promenades and Avenue de Laon.
• 800 m² (8,600 sq ft) of ice, open every day, admission from €5.50.
• Jardin des Oursons: on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to noon, the rink is reserved for children up to 11 with their parents.
• Gloves are compulsory.

The makers’ market on the train station forecourt

At the other end of the Promenades, in front of the station, a second market puts local talent in the spotlight.

• Who: local designers, producers and craftspeople, brought together by the Association Locale de Créateurs.
• Why stop by: you can chat with passionate makers, happy to talk about their craft and skills. And you leave with an original gift, made close by and bought straight from the person who dreamed it up.
• When: 25 November to 27 December, Monday 2pm to 7pm and Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm. Closes at 5pm on 24 December, closed on the 25th, open 2pm to 7pm on the 26th.

Christmas for kids

From giant teddy bears to fairground rides, here’s everything waiting for younger visitors over the festive season.

• The Village des Oursons (Porte de Mars esplanade)
  • Santa, there until 24 December, and the little train.
  • Giant teddy bears, automatons and light displays for souvenir photos.
  • Hours: 3pm to 7pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 11:30am to 7pm Wednesday; 11am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays and from 21 to 23 December; 11am to 6pm on 24 December.
  • A little game on the way: spot Romulus and Remus carved into the arches of the Porte de Mars.
• The UCPA Sport Station ice rink, right next to the market
  • The Jardin des Oursons session, reserved for children up to 11 with their parents, on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to noon.
  • Gloves are compulsory.
• Christmas carols: Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December at 5:30pm, in the market.
• The Ferris wheel, Place d’Erlon: €6 per child, every day from 10am to 10pm.
• Le Ramoneur et les bulles de lumière (The Chimney Sweep and the Bubbles of Light): every evening from 5pm behind the Palais du Tau, free.
• The Foire de Noël et des Rois, the Christmas funfair, Chaussée Bocquaine, from 5 December to 3 January
  • Rides for all ages, free entry.
  • Highlights: fireworks on Saturday 5 December at 9pm, a Toy Story parade on Sunday 13 December and a Grinch parade on Wednesday 23 December.
  • Good deal: buy one ride, get one free on Wednesdays 9 and 16 December.
  • Hours: from 5 to 18 December, opens at 4pm on weekdays (2:30pm on Wednesdays) and 2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays; from 19 December, every day from 2:30pm.
  • Free shuttle from the market: departs from the Gare Centre stop, from 2:30pm. From 5 to 20 December, Wednesdays and Sundays until 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays until 10:30pm; from 21 to 24 December, every day until 10pm; 26 December until 10:30pm and 27 December until 9pm. No shuttle on the 25th.

Place d’Erlon, the city from above

A few minutes’ walk from the chalets, Place d’Erlon carries the festivities into the heart of the city centre. This is where you’ll find the two most photographed silhouettes of Christmas in Reims.

The Ferris wheel

The big thrill of the season, to share with family or as a couple.

• 55 m (180 ft) high, with 36 enclosed, heated cabins.
• The view: by day, the city, the Cathedral and the nearby vineyards; by night, the lights of Reims and the Christmas illuminations.
• Dates: Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, so before the market opens and after it closes.
• Hours: every day from 10am to 10pm.
• Prices: €8 per adult, €6 per child.

The giant Christmas tree

Every year, it puts on its coat of lights in the middle of the square.

• Set up on Place d’Erlon for the whole festive season.
• Best admired after dark, with the illuminated Ferris wheel as a backdrop.

The Cathedral and the Palais du Tau, Christmas on a grand scale

As the chalets light up, the celebrations reach the Cathedral area. This is where the kings of France came to be crowned, right up to Charles X in 1825, and where the season’s two light shows take place. The Cathedral, the Palais du Tau and the former Abbey of Saint-Remi have been listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

Regalia, on the façade of the Cathedral

The grown-ups’ highlight, and a treat for kids allowed to stay up a little.

• The show: created by the Montreal studio Moment Factory, it brings the day of a coronation back to life, from dawn to the night’s festivities, blending video, light played across the architecture and a soundtrack.
• When: Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, from 27 November 2026 to 2 January 2027 (full schedule on reims.fr, in French).
• Length: about 10 minutes, one showing per evening.
• Free, no booking needed.

The Chimney Sweep and the Bubbles of Light, behind the Palais du Tau

The children’s show, every evening of the season.

• Where: the back of the Palais du Tau, the former archbishops’ palace where the king dressed before his coronation and where the banquet that followed was held.
• When: every evening from 5pm, from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
• Free, open to all.

Éclats d’Art, the fine crafts exhibition

A warm indoor detour, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral.

• Works entered in the Éclats d’Art competition, the City of Reims prize for fine crafts, made by artisans from the Grand Est region.
• For this 20^th edition, the theme is “Vingt ans d’empreintes” (Twenty years of imprints).
• Where: at the Tourist Office, 6 rue Rockefeller.
• When: from 24 November 2026 to 7 January 2027.
• Free entry.

The Forum area, Christmas the makers’ way

Between the Cathedral and the Promenades, the Forum area shows another side of the festive season, with its little streets, independent shops and great places to eat. In December, it also hosts a Christmas market quite unlike the others.

Hypernoël, the designers’ market at Le Cellier

The market for the curious, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year.

• The idea: at the invitation of the City, the Hyperespace studio brings together artists and craftspeople from the region. Expect illustrations, small-press publications and objects you won’t find anywhere else.
• The venue: Le Cellier, 4 bis rue de Mars. Champagne houses once stored their bottles bound for export here. It is now one of the City’s cultural venues.
• Dates:
  • Friday 11 December, 4pm to 10pm, special late opening for the 10^th anniversary;
  • Saturday 12 and Sunday 13, 10am to 8pm;
  • Wednesday 16 to Friday 18, 2pm to 8pm;
  • Saturday 19 and Sunday 20, 10am to 8pm.
• Free entry.

Where to stay close to the festivities

The Reims Christmas market is best enjoyed on foot, from one site to the next. To make the most of it, stay in the centre and leave the car behind. Our four apartments are all close to the festivities, and all have a fully equipped kitchen. December weekends are the most in demand, so it’s best to book early.

Forum area, under 10 minutes’ walk from the market

Our three apartments in the Forum area are on rue du Marc, in an 1859 neoclassical townhouse. The street is cobbled, pedestrian and peaceful. The chalets of the Hautes-Promenades are under 10 minutes’ walk away, the Cathedral and Regalia a few streets away, and Hypernoël is right in the area. Pop over to the market, drop off your shopping, and head back out in the evening.

La Noctambulle Forum · Grand Duplex Prestige

80 m² · 860 sq ftUp to 6 guestsPrivate sauna and hammam

The duplex for big get-togethers, for families and groups of friends. Downstairs, a large, bright living room with an open kitchen and dining area; upstairs, two bedrooms with king-size beds and a spa bathroom with a private sauna and hammam, just the thing to warm up after an evening out under the lights.

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La Noctambulle Forum · Duplex Deluxe

50 m² · 540 sq ftUp to 4 guestsPrivate hammam

A modern, stylish cocoon for couples and small groups of friends. Downstairs, a designer living room with an open kitchen; upstairs, a bedroom with a king-size bed and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and private hammam.

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La Rêverie

42 m² · 450 sq ftUp to 4 guestsHammam shower

Step into a checkerboard marble hall with stained glass and a wrought-iron staircase, then head up to an apartment full of character: cobalt blue at the entrance, a gold relief wall, high ceilings, a bedroom wrapped in jungle wallpaper, a king-size bed and a hammam shower.

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Cathedral area, 2 minutes from Regalia

Our apartment in the Cathedral area is on rue Brûlée, a small cobbled street just behind the Voie des Sacres, the old coronation route. The Cathedral is a 2-minute walk away: Regalia on Fridays and Saturdays, The Chimney Sweep every evening behind the nearby Palais du Tau. The Christmas market is just two tram stops away. The street stays quiet, with no café terraces under the windows.

La Noctambulle Cathédrale · Duplex Confort

45 m² · 480 sq ftUp to 5 guestsMezzanine

A snug duplex in a period building, full of light, with a mezzanine overlooking the living room. Sleeps up to five, for families or close friends.

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To compare areas and choose yours: Where to stay in Reims: the best areas.

Frequently asked questions

Updated on 30 October 2026. Opening hours and schedules may change: check them before your visit on reims.fr (in French).